DAMIEN'S POV

The other cars pulled up, doors slamming as my men piled out—ten of them, sharp and ready. Maximus had sent trackers from the palace who knew how to sniff out hidden spots. We'd need them.

"Spread out," I ordered, my voice cutting through the night. "Search every inch. Look for tracks, disturbances, anything out of place."

They fanned out, flashlights slicing through the darkness, boots crunching leaves. I joined them, my senses on high alert. The air smelled of pine and damp earth, but underneath… something faint. Metallic. Blood? No, too soon for that. Or maybe I was imagining it.

We pushed deeper into the forest, branches snagging...